Vacuum-producing device.



J. McALEAR.

VACUUM PRODUCING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11, 1914. 1,148,603. Patented Aug. 3,1915.

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J. McALEAR.

VACUUM PRODUCING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. 1914.

1,148,603. Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

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JAMES MCALEAR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VACUUM-PRODUCING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1915.

Application filed April 11, 1914. Serial No. 831,352.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMEs MOALEAR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ghicago, in the county of Cook andState of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vacuum-Producing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to vacuum producing devices and has for its object to provide a new and improved device of this description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view in part section showing one form of device; Fig. 2 is a sectional view through the valve actuating mechanism; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures.

As illustrated in the drawing, the device is provided with a suitable tank 1. This tank is connected by means of a pipe 2 with a heating system or other device from which air is to be withdrawn. A steam pipe 3 is connected to a source of steam supply and is also connected with the bracket 4 leading to the tank 1. The steam pipe 3 is, provided with a valve 5 which is controlled by a controlling part 6 attached by a link 6 to a lever 6", said lever being provided with an adjustable weight 6.

A water pipe 7 is provided with a valve 8 which is connected by a link 8 'with the controlling part 6 connected with the lever 6 so that the valve 8 will be openedand closed as the lever is moved. The valve 8 controls the flow of the water through the pipe 7 to the tank 1 and also controls the flow of the water through the'pipe 9.

I prefer to provide some suitable spreading or spraying device in the tank 1, such as the part 7 to spread or spray the water about the tank as it is discharged from pipe 7. When the lever 6 is moved .in one direction the steam valve 5 is opened and the water valve 8 closed and when the lever is moved in the opposite direction the steam valve 5 is closed and the water valve 8 opened. WVhen the lever is stopped in an intermediate position, bothvalves are closed.

The lever 6 is pivotally connected at 10 with a fixed part, such as the cover 11 of the casing 12. This casing is provided with a diaphragm 13 extending thereacross. Gonnected with this diaphragm is a part 1 1 which projects through the cover 11 and which engages the lever 8 which controls the valve 5. The casing 12 is connected by a pipe 15 with a chamber 16'adapted to be connected to and disconnected from a source of Water supply.

As herein shown, a water pipe 17 is connected with a source of water supply under pressure, such as the city water supply and is controlled by a valve which is moved in response to variations in the conditions in the tank 1.

As herein shown, the pipe 17 connects with the chamber 16 and the pipe 7. Within this chamber is a valve 18 which works in the guides 19 and 20 provided with ports 21 and 22. The ports 21 connect the water pipe 17 with the chamber 16 and the ports 22 connect the chamber 16 with the discharge pipe 23 which leads to the tank 1 and which discharges into said tank.

An arm 25, provided with a weight 25 is connected to a shaft 26 which projects through a suitablestufiing box in the side of the casing. Connected with this shaft is a controlling arm 26 which engages the valve '18, the parts being arranged so that when the arm 25 is moved, the valve will be also moved.

The arm 25 is connected with an actuating part 27 which in turn is connected with an actuating device 28. This actuating device may be of any suitable form which will respond to variations in conditions in the tank 1. As herein shown, the actuating device consists of a bellows or flexible receptacle containing fluid which expands when heated. The flexible receptacle is located in a casing 29 which is connected by a pipe 30, withthe tank 1. In the construction shown this connection is made through the tank 31 which is connected with the tank 1 by the discharge pipe 33 containing the check valve 34. v

The tank 31 has a discharge pipe 32 which is provided with a water seal by means of the partition 35 so that the steam entering the tank 31 will not ordinarily escape through the discharge pipe 32, but will pass up through pipe 30 and be brought into contact with the flexible receptacle 28. The tank 31 is also provided with a discharge pipe 36'.

It is of course evident that any other means may be provided for admitting steam to the casing 29 when such steam is admitted to the tank 1. The pipe 9 leading from the valve 8 in the water pipe 7 connects with the casing 25 so that water is brought into contact with the flexible receptacle 28 when the water valve 8 is opened.

Some suitable means is provided for stop '37, arranged to engage the controlling part 6, as the lever 6" moves down and stop its movement when both the steam and water valves are closed. The stop 37 is pivoted at 38 and is connected to a rod 39 fastened to a diaphragm in a casing 10. The portion of the casing under this diaphragm is connected by a pipe 41 with the vacuum pipe 2. Then the vacuum in the tank 1 and hence the pipe 2, which is connected therewith, falls below a predetermined amount, the diaphragm in the casing l0, the upper side of which is exposed to atmospheric pressure, rises and moves the upper end of the stop 37 to the right, so that it becomes disengaged from the controlling part 6. The weight 6 then causes the lever to drop so as to move the steam valve 5 to its open position.

I have described in detail a particular form embodying my invention, but it is of course evident that the parts may be varied in many particulars and some of the parts omitted and others used with parts not herein shown, without departing from the spirit of my invention and I therefore do not limit myself to the particular construction shown.

The use and operation of my invention are as follows: When it is desired to operate the device, the steam valve 5 is opened and the steam passes from steam pipe 3 down into the tank 1, driving the air from said tank out through the discharge pipe 33. When the tank is filled with steam, the steam passes into tank 31 and up through pipe 30 and comes into contact with the receptacle 28. The expanding material therein is now heated and the receptacle expanded so as to move the part 27 upwardly. This moves the arm 25 and rocks shaft 26 and moves valve 18 so as to close ports 22 and open ports 21. Water then flows from the pipe 17 into chamber 16 and thence through pipe 15 to the casing 12. The water then moves the diaphragm 13 and the actuating part 14: so as to move the lever 6 upwardly. This movement of the lever closes the steam valve 5 and opens the water valve 8. Water now passes from pipe 7 into the tank 1 and is sprayed about said tank so as to condense the steam therein, thereby producing a vacuum. This vacuum acting through the pipe 2 draws the air from the heating system or other device connected with said pipe. At the same time water passes through the pipe 9 and into the casing 29 and comes into contact with the expanding receptacle 28, thereby cooling it and causing it to contract. This moves parts 27, 25 and 26 so as to move valve 18 to close ports 21 and open ports 22. Water then flows from the casing 12 through pipe 15 into chamber" 16 and thence through v I pipe 23 into tank 1, said water assisting" in condensing any steam which may remain in said tank. This relieves the pressure from diaphragm 13 and the weight 6 moves the lever 6 downwardly to close the water valve 8. In view of the vacuum in the tank 1 and the pipe 2, the stop37' is now in the'path of the controlling part 6 and hence stops the movement of said controlling part after the 1 water valve is closed and before the steam valve is opened. When the vacuum in the tank 1 and the pipe 2 is lowered to a-predetermined amount, the equalizingof the pressure above and below the diaphragm in the casing 40 causes the upper end'of the stop 37 to be moved outwardly, thereby releasing the controlling part 6. The weight 6 then moves the lever 6 downwardly so as to open the steam valve 5 and the operation above described is repeated.

I claim:

1. A vacuum producing device comprising a tank, a vacuum-connection leading to said tank, steam and water connections leading to said tank, valves for controlling said steam and water connections, a water actuated device connected with said valves, so as to open and close them, a controlling de vice for said water actuated device, said controlling device responsive to variations in conditions in said tank.

2. A vacuum producing device comprising a tank, a vacuum connection leading to said tank, a steam connection leading to said tank, a water connection leading tosaid tank, valves for controlling saidsteam and water connectlons, a controlling apparatus connected with said valves for alternately opening and closing them, a motor device" for moving said controlling apparatus and starting and stopping devices for said motor device, responsive to variations in conditions in said tank.

3. A vacuum producing device comprising a tank, a vacuum connection leading to said tank, steam and water connections leading to said tank, valves for controlling said steam and water connections, a water actuated device connected'with said valves 7 for opening and closing them, a controlling valve for controlling the admission of water to said Water actuated device and means responsive to variations in the conditions in said tank for actuating said latter valve.

4. A vacuum producing device comprising a tank, a vacuum connection leading to said tank, steam and Water connections leading to said tank, valves for controlling said steam and Water connections, a Water actuated device connected With said valves for opening and closing them, a controlling valve for controlling the admission of Water to said Water actuated device, a thermostatic device connected With said latter valve for moving it, said thermostatic device actuated by steam from said steam pipe.

5. A vacuum producing device comprising a tank, a vacuum connection leading to said tank, steam and water connections leading to said tank, valves for controlling said steam and Water connections, a Water actuated device connected With said valves for opening and closing them, a controlling valve for controlling the admission of Water to said Water actuated device, a thermostatic device connected with said latter valve for controlling it and means controlled by the valves in said steam and Water connections, for alternately heating and cooling said thermostatic device.

6. A vacuum producing device comprising a tank in Which the vacuum is produced, steam and Water connections leading to said tank, valves for controlling said steam and Water connections, a motor device for moving said valves to open and close them, a thermostatic device for starting and stopping said motor device and means controlled by the valves in said steam and Water connections, for alternately heating and cooling said thermostatic device.

In testimony whereof, I ailiX my signature in the presence of two Witnesses this 30th day of March 1914.

, JAMES MOALEAR.

Witnesses BESSIE S. RI E, LAUREL M. DOREMUS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O. 

